Door-closer.



J. N. PRIEST.

DOOR CLOSER.

MPUCATIONHLED APR. 16. 1915.

PatentedSept. 12, 191

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES N. PRIEST, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DOOR-CLOSER.

Application filed April 16, 1915.

T0 (ZZZ/107L077), it may concern Be it known that I, Jaarns N. PRmsT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Door-Closers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanisms for operating water-tight bulkhead doors and it consists in the 'novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide mechanism adapted to be operated automatically for the purpose of closing bulkhead doors the parts of the mechanism being so arranged that they may be manually manipulated to effect the closing of the door.

Vith the above objects in view the mechanism includes a door mounted for sliding movement and an arm pivotally mounted above the door and operatively connected with the same. Buffing devices are operatively connected with the said arm and serve as means for cushioning the closing move ment of the door in its frame. A pressure operated means is operatively connected with the arm and a. valve mechanism is arranged to control the passage of fluid pressure through the said pressure operated means. A float operated device is movably mounted to open the valve mechanism and permit the flow of fluid pressure through the pressure operated means. Signals and gages are operatively connected with the several features of the mechanism for inclicating when the door is closed, the depth of water in the vessel etc.

In the accompanying drawing the figure is a side elevation of the door operating mechanism showing parts in section and parts in diagram.

As shown in the accompanying drawing the door 1 is mounted for sliding movement in the frame 2. An arm 3 is pivotally mounted above the door frame 2 for swinging movement and is operatively connected by means of a pin and slot connection a with the door 1. A cylinder 5 is mounted above the door 1. A rod 23 is pivotally connected with the arm 3 at a point between the ends thereof and is adapted to move longitudinally of the cylinder 5. A piston 8 is attached to the end of the rod 23 and also moves along the cylinder 5. \Vhen the door Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Serial No. 21,693.

2 is swung from an open position shown 1n the drawing toa closed position in the frame 2 some of the air in the cylinder 5 is trapped between one end of the. piston 8 and the closure which closes the end of the cylinder and constitutes a cushion which causes the door- 1 to move-from an open to -a closed position in the frame 2 gradually and without force of impact. The piston 8 controls the movement of the door 1 when 1t is moving from an open to a closed position in the frame and also controls the movement of the door 1 when it is moving from a closed position to an open position.

A bell crank lever 9 is fulcrumed adjacent the frame 2 and a rod 10 operatively connects one end of the said bell crank lever with the arm 3. A valve casing 11 is mounted adjacent the frame 2 and a gate valve 12 is movably mounted in the said valve casing. A rod 13 operatively connects the valve 12 withthe bell crank lever 9. Thus when the door 1 moves from the opened position shown in the drawing to a closed position in the frame 2 the valve 12 is moved to a closed position over the sluice port 12 and thus all communication between adjacent bulkheads is closed.

A signal or alarm-is provided for indicating when the door -1' is moved from an opened to a closed position in the frame 2 and the said signal includes a light 14 and a bell 15 electrically connected together by means of a wire 16 there being a battery 17 also connected with the said wire. The wire 16 is provided at its ends with terminals 18 which are normally spaced from each other. A bell crank lever '19 is pivotally mounted adjacent the terminals 18 and when the said lever 19 is swung one end thereof is adapted to encounter one of the terminals 18 and other terminal. This, of course, takes place when the door 1 is moved from an opened position to a closed position in the frame 2. Vhen the terminals 18 are brought in contact with one another the electric circuit along the wire 16 from the battery 17 is closed, consequently the lamp 14 is illuminated and the bell 15 is sounded. The said lamp and bell may be at any desired point, at, for instance, in the engine room of a vessel or upon the bridge thereof. For this reason those in charge will know when the door 1 is moved from an opened to a closed position in the frame 2.

A cylinder 21 is mounted adjacent the frame 2 and a piston 22 is slidably mounted in the said cylinder. The piston rod 23 carries the piston 22 and traverses the length of the cylinder 21. A fluid pressure chest 24 is mounted upon the cylinder 21 and fluid pressure passage ways 25 lead from the said chest into the cylinder 21. A valve 26 is slidably mounted in the chest 24 and may be of any usual form or pattern. A pipe 27 is connected with one end of the chest 24 and a valve casing 28 is connected with one end of the pipe 27. A Valve 29 is movably mounted in the casing 28 and normally closes the end of the pipe 27 as best shown in the drawing. A stop 30 is mounted upon the stem 31 of the valve 29 and a spring 32 is interposed between the end of the casing 28 and the stop and is under tension with a tendency to hold the valve 29 in a closed position against the end of the pipe 27 An arm 33 is mounted upon the casing 28 and a bell crank lever 34 is fulcrumed upon the said arm. One end of the bell crank lever 3-1 is operatively connected with the project ing end portion of the stem 31. A pipe 35 is connected at one end with the casing 28 and the said pipe is provided with a valve 36. A cylinder 37 is mounted adjacent the frame 2 and is provided in the vicinity of its lower end with a series of openings 38. A float 39 is slidably mounted in the cylinder 37 and the lower end of a rod 40 is connected with the said float. The intermediate portion of the rod 40 passes through a guide 41 which may be mounted on any suitable support. The rod 40 is provided at a point above the guide 41 with a notch 42 which normally receives the end of the bell crank lever 34 hereinbefore described. Pulleys 43 and 44 are journaled above the door frame and a cable 45 is trained over the said pulleys. One end of the cable 45 is connected with the upper end of the rod 40 and to that end of the cable 45 which depends from the pulley 44 is attached a weight 46. A scale 47 is arranged adjacent that end portion of the cable 45 which carries the weight 46 and a pointer 48 is attached to the said cable and is adapted to move along the said scale.

Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in the drawing and water should enter the lower part of the vessel at which the frame is located. When the water passes through the openings 38 in the lower part of the cylinder 37 the float 39 is elevated along the said cylinder and the rod 40 is moved longitudinally in an upward di rection. Therefore the notch 42 swings the bell crank lever 34 and the valve stem 31 is moved longitudinally whereby the valve 29 is moved away from the end of the pipe 27. Assuming now that the valve 36 is opened and fluid pressure is passing through the pipe 35 the said pressure enters the casing 28 and passes from the said casing through the 'pipe 27 into the chest 24. The pressure in the said chest against the end of the valve 26 moves the said valve away from the pipe 27 and uncovers one of the passage ways 25 whereby the said pressure passes down into the cylinder 21 and behind the piston 22. The pressure thus admitted into the cylinder 21 moves the piston and rods 23 longitudinally whereby the arm 3 is swung and the door 1 is moved from an opened to a closed position in the frame 2. At the time that the rod 40 moves in an upward direction the cable 45 moves longitudinally over the pulleys 43 and 44 and the pointer 48 descends along the scale 47 and indicates the height to which the water has risen in the compartment of the vessel in which the cylinder 37 is located. A pipe 49 is connected with the pipe 27 and a valve 50 is provided upon the pipe 49. The pipe 49 connects with the pipe 27 at a point between the valve casing 28 and the chest 24. WVhen it is desired to operate the door 1 by manually permitting the fluid pressure to enter the chest 24 the valve 50 is opened whereby the fluid pressure may pass through the pipes 49 and 27 into the chest and operate the valve 26 and the parts in the cylinder 21 as hereinbefore described.

\Vhen the valve 12 is open water may flow through the part 12 from an adjacent compartment and enter that compartment of the vessel in which the cylinder 37 is located. This water may then flow along the bottom of the compartment and enter the cylinder through the openings 38 and raise the float 39 in the said cylinder.

A pipe 51 is connected with the chest 24 at the opposite end thereof from that end with which the pipe 27 connects and the pipe 51 is provided with a valve 52. When it is desired to move the door 1 from a closed to an opened position in the frame 2 the valve 52 is manually opened by the fluid pressure passing through the pipe 51 into the chest 24 and moves the valve 26 therein so that the said valve uncovers that port 25 which it is shown covering in the drawing and the fluid pressure passing down through the passage way 25 into the cylinder 21 and moves the piston 22 and rod 23 in a direction away from the arm 3. Thus the door 1 is moved from a closed to an opened position in its frame.

A signal and an alarm is provided for indicating high water in the vessel. The said signal includes a lamp 53 and a bell 5e operatively connected together by means of wire A battery 56 is also connected with the said wire and the wire is provided with spaced terminals 57. A. bell crank lever 58 is pivoted adjacent the terminals 57 and the rod %0 is provided at its upper end with a laterally disposed extension 59 which when the rod is raised is adapted to encounter one end of the bell crank lever 57 and swing the same. As the said lever 58 swings it encounters one of the terminals 57 and moves the same into engagement with the other terminal 57. Thus the electric circuit along the wire 55 is closed from the battery 56 to the lamp 58 and bell 5e and the said lamp is lighted and the bell sounded. The lamp 53 and bell 5% may be located in the engine room or on the bridge of the vessel, consequently those in authority may know that the water in the vessel has risen to such an extent to cause the door 1 to move from an opened to a closed position in the frame 2.

From the above description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing it will be seen that door operating means of simple and durable structure is provided and that the said structure may be automatically operated by the rise in the level of water in a vessel or may be operated manually at will.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. In combination with a door slidably mounted in a frame, an arm pivotally mounted above the door and operatively connected with the same, fluid pressure means for swinging the arm, a sluice way for supplying fluid pressure to the same,

and means operatively connected with the arm to cut off the water from the sluice way.

2. In combination with a door slidably mounted in a frame, an arm pivotally mounted above the frame and operatively connected with the door, fluid pressure means for swinging the arm, valve means for controlling the flow of fluid pressure through the said fluid pressure means and adapted to be actuated by the rise of water, and buffing means for cushioning the operation of the fluid pressure means and the movement of the door.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES N. PRIEST.

Witnesses:

JoHN A .DOURGAN, MARTHA F. PRIEST.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

